Leatherwork Guidebook - Flipbook - Page 34
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the needle instead of moving through the eye
to form a loop.
Make sure your needle is installed correctly
(p. 27), is not bent or damaged, and is free of
any residue from sewing adhesive material.
Fouled needles may be cleaned with rubbing
alcohol. Bent or damaged needles must be
replaced.
2. Turning Corners Correctly
Skipped Stitches
A skipped stitch means the gib hook is not
catching the thread consistently. There are
a number of causes for skipped stitches.
You can turn gentle corners while sewing
at slow, consistent speeds. If motion is
stopped and a change of direction is
desired, position the needle at its lowest
point then continue rotation until the needle
comes up 1/8 inch. Stop and lift the foot
to twist the sewn assembly and make a
direction change. Drop the presser feet and
continue sewing. Follow these directions to
avoid badly tensioned corner stitches and
reduce the chance of a skipped stitch.
3. Not Enough Foot Pressure
Start with step 1 and stop as soon as the
problem is resolved.
Materials like dense, vegetable tanned
leather, can make the withdrawal of the
needle from the material difficult.
1. Incorrectly Installed, Bent or Dirty Needle
If the presser foot is being lifted as the needle
comes out of the leather, the loop that the
needle forms will be too small.
A bent needle will cause skipped stitches
because the loop is not where the gib hook
(p. 30, M) “expects” it to be. Adhesive residue
on the needle will cause the thread to stick to
31 |
Increase the downward pressure on the
presser foot by tightening the Pressure
Regulating Thumbscrew (p. 21, 26).
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